Tonight's lineup: Caps at Oilers

Michal Neuvirth, as expected, will start in goal tonight for the Caps, who haven't won in Edmonton since 1996 (seven games). Jeff Deslauriers, meanwhile, will be between the pipes for the Oilers, losers of two straight.

Quintin Laing will return after missing 14 games with a broken jaw, while Brooks Laich will shift to center at Rexall Place. Those changes, however, aren't all that's different for Washington. Based on warmups, here's what the Caps' lineup should look like:

OK, Who the hell mentioned shutout? you must be a rookie hockey fan.this is just a hard game to watch.ovi and the caps need to step it up and BB,he needs to reconfigure the PP cause it aint workin.come on caps your givin me a heart attack over here.And no more mentioning of shutouts.GO NEUVY

You can blame Alzner on that last goal or call it a fluke but they were forechecking the crap out of us and we were struggling to get the puck out of our own end. Something good was bound to happen for Edmonton.

Something is probably wrong with Ovi. There was report of "sore body part" at Monday's practice where he left early. There's reports of groin problem. There's reports of shoulder problems from his old injury.

Frankly, I'm not just worried about this game but the next two as well. They play Buffalo next. And since Varlamov won't be back, I don't like their chances. And after that, they play NJ, the best team in the NHL besides Pittsburgh.

Wow, offense is completely out of sync. Looks like there's no comeback tonight. I think they are just really tired and they need some home cookin'. What's wrong with the offense? They're shooting from the blue line and there are no second chances and no traffic in front of their goalie. We're making this average goalie look like Marty Brodeur. This is pretty painful to watch.

Tough luck for Neuvy. He's playing very well and under control. Too bad the defense doesn't help him out and once again our own defensemen scores for the opposing team. I wish there was a stat that kept track of how many goals are deflected in off a player against their own goalie. We must lead the league in that. Very frustrating.

For those blaming 55 for the first goal where was his support from the other D or the forward covering for him? They were no where. Ovechkin was gliding the whole way back when he could have caught the second guy and stopped the play but he didn't. He needs to start taking shorter shifts so he can still have energy to backcheck. And Tondi you must not know much about hockey if you want Shultz shot. Coming into tonights game he was second on the team in +/- and in the top 10 in the league. His job is to try and stop many odd man rushes because he plays with Green who is a 4th forward and since most of the time the Ovechkin line is on forward with him he is not having anyone come back and cover for Green when he pinches and doesn't come back fast if at all. People on this board keep asking for the Caps to get a D man who thinks D first and that is exactally what Shultz is bt since he doesn't crush people you think he isn't good.

Something is definitely wrong with Ovi. He hasn't been himself this whole road trip. It looks like he's not even out there. Probably some kind of "lower body injury" since he just isn't moving like he normally does.

@Tondi perhaps you could use some facts or examples to support your argument...

@ icehammer97
"Coming into tonights game he was second on the team in +/- and in the top 10 in the league"
yes and Erskine is tied for 4rd on the team in +/- wit +11 so that makes him our 2nd best DF WOW

I actually don't think line combos were a problem. We won the period statiscally this game. Last game we had a 2-1 lead and had more chances as well.

I'm not sure what the problem is, but don't think line tweeks is the fix. Maybe but to me it seems like they had lots of chances last game, and this game I think they're just showing fatigue, while Edm is fresh

@icehammer97: Correct! Shultz is the perfect D-man that we need. He doesn't play with the puck he just gets it up the ice and doesn't try to make a special passes and does exactly what he is supposed to do. Shultz is a no frills guy and he is a quiet defensive member on this team. No he does not smash people but he plays a solid D position

Looks like life in the third. And Tondi I think defensivly he might be our second best (other then Alzner who hasn't been up for long). Green and Poti are more offensive minded an the others aren't even good enough to stay in the lineup every night.

Well, if our "top line" is -2 or worse on the night, BB will definitely NOT team up the current grouping. A certain person will be sent down to a lower line for next game.

No, I wasn't expecting the Caps to remain #1. And we have MAJOR problems with consistency. And with blowing leads. If we had won even HALF our games where we had the lead, we'd be in first by a ridiculous margin.

Wow so I said after the second I wasn't feeling too good about this game BUT there is still 20 mins left. So glad the guys are responding BIG TIME here in the third. This team looks tired?? What? Umm not so much. :) Keep it up. Don't take the foot off the throat.